Spring terminal clip



A. P. FA HNESTOCK SPRING TERMINAL CLIP Mal ch 29, 1927.

Filed Oct. 27, 1923 Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES ARCHIE P. FAHNESTOCK, F LQNG ISLAND CIT Y, YORK. I

SPRING TERMINAL CLIP.

Application filed October 27, 1923. Serial No. 671,188.

The present invention relates to binding posts or fastening devices for the terminals of electrical conductors and consists in the combinations and arrangements of elements hereinafter described and particularly set forth in the accompanying claims.

The invention has for its purpose to provide a device of this character wherein the conductor terminal may be readily applied to or removed from the cli through the instrument of the termina piece alone; i. e., without necessitating the use of the hands or any implement for manipulating the clip as a requisite to applying the terminal piece thereto or for removing the same.

A further purpose resides in providing a terminal cli having these automatic features Which Will securely hold the conductor in firmly gripped or clamped position, readily permitting the insertion and removal of the conductor and insuring proper electrical contact at all times between the conductor and the fastenin device.

The invention is further characterized in that the clip is especially adapted for that type of work wherein a large number of clips are mounted on 'a terminal block in close proximity to the end that the respective conductors may be ap lied to position -or removed at will, and t ereby avoiding the necessity for using both hands, or the implements usually employed for separating the respective clip members to weave the a terminal pieces as now required.

The terminal cli described herem is proposed as a modi cation of the types of clips shown in m copending applicat ons for United States tters Patents, Ser al No.

643,715, filed June 6,1923, and Ser1al No. 670,053, filed Oct. 22, 1923. I The invention is shown by way of 1l lustration in the accompanying drawmgs wherein- Y 4 Figure 1 is a perspective view of the de-- Fig. 2 an edgewise elevational view thereof.

Fig. 3 a side elevational view and Fig. 4 a top plan view, wlth the termmal piece removed.

Referring to the construction in further detail, and wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the difier-' cut views shown, 5 designates the base portion of the clip, and 6 and 7 the parallel as at 11, terminating at an appreciable disside members thereof. Saidbase and side portions are constructed from a single metal plece, as shown', and the device is adapted to be mounted on the block or other support 8 by a screw threaded plug 9 or other fastening means providing'one of the terminals.

The side portions 6 and 7. are similarly turned inwardly as at 10 and downwardly tance above the base portion 5. (See Fig. 2.) The disclosed manner of forming the bent or turned portions 10 gives thereto and to the terminal portions 11 the necessary resiliency for connecting and disconnecting the terminal end piece 12 of the conductor 13. And this resi iency provides the necessary binding contact between said terminal portions 11 and the conductor end 12 to insure the required conductivity.

Each of the terminal or contacting portions 11 of the clip is slightly recessed or bulged inwardly, as at 14, to hold the terminal piece 12 in rigid 'position, and to readily per it of insertion and removal of the conductoflmember. Said depressed portions 14 furthermore definitely locate the position for applyingthe conductor member 12 when said member is to be inserted where the clip is locatedat an inaccessible lace, or at times of darkness, as will be an erstood. That is the two depressions 11 form internal parts of the two turned portions 10 and are located at the meeting edges thereof thereby providing a circular openin at the top of 90 the clip which serves as a guide for locating and initially positioning the terminal piece 12 under the conditions stated.

It will therefore be seen that this type of clip readily permits of insertion and removal of. the terminal piece by an endwise or head-on movement as distinct from a lateral wise'one. And this fitting of the terminal iece to the clip may be accomplished who y by one hand, i. 0., it is not necessary to use the other hand, or a mechanical device,

- to separate the clip members which is now the general practice in devices of this character. I

It will be understood of course that the invention is not limited to the details ofv construction and arrangement herein set forth inasmuch as various modifications may be made therein without departing from the invention within the scope of the claim.

What is claimed as new is A terminal p made from metallic band of, uniform width comprising a centrally apertured securing base provided with flat, upright side members, said members having their ends turnedfirst inwardly to form areuate portions and then downwardly to form substantially parallel depending fingers, each finger being provided withv a groove, the grooves facing each other and being arranged for receiving and clamping a pin terminal therebetween and extending along said fingers in the central length direction thereof and to the full extent of the fingers,

and being located at the ineting faces thereofto provide a substantially circular opening at the top of the clips for holding the pin terminal centrally therein, and in upright position, the aperture in said base being adapted to engage with a screw-threaded plug, whereby said pin terminal is made to contact with said plug when gripped by the fingers, substantially asset forth.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature. I

' ARCHIE P. FAHNESTOCK 

